DWI patrols will be out on St. Patrick's Day

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota State Patrol says if you have plans to party on St. Patrick's Day, make sure you include a plan for a safe and sober ride.

Authorities will be out in full force on Wednesday and into Thursday morning, looking for drunken drivers. The Department of Public Safety says in recent years, St. Patrick's Day has been the holiday with the highest percentage of alcohol-related traffic deaths.

DPS says from 2004 through 2008, 55 percent of St. Patrick's Day traffic deaths were alcohol-related.

During that same time period, 1,725 motorists were arrested for DWI during the holiday.

This year, DWI enforcement will include seat belt patrols - authorities say 75 percent of impaired drivers killed annually are also not buckled up.

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